Module HIST20X1: Cross-cultural Iberia: identity and diversity ca. 650-950

Department: History

HIST20X1: Cross-cultural Iberia: identity and diversity ca. 650-950

Prerequisites

• A pass mark in at least ONE Level 1 HIST module

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• to introduce students to an aspect of social, political or religious history of the late medieval period;
• to engage students with a range of textual, visual or archaeological evidence, to explore questions about an aspect of Late Medieval History;
• to contribute towards the achievement of the Department’s generic aims for study at Level 2.

Content

• Currently being developed: to be determined on the appointment of a new member of teaching staff.

Learning Outcomes

• an awareness of the source material used by historians to understand the religious, political, social or intellectual history of an aspect the medieval period;
• an understanding of some of the key themes, issues and historiographical debates around an aspect of medieval history.

• an ability to construct reasoned arguments about an aspect of Medieval history;
• an ability to evaluate scholarly interpretations of key developments associated with an aspect of Medieval history;
• an ability to evaluate critically a range of sources and the methodological approaches used to interpret them.

• Students will develop skills in independent learning, rapid critical reading, synthesis, and analytic thinking.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Student learning is facilitated by a combination of the following teaching methods:
• lectures to set the foundations for further study and to provide the basis for the acquisition of subject specific knowledge. Lectures provide a broad framework which defines individual module content, introducing students to themes, debates and interpretations. In this environment, students are given the opportunity to develop skills in listening, selective note-taking and reflection;
• seminars to allow students to present and critically reflect upon the acquired subject-specific knowledge, methodologies and theories, and to identify and debate a range of issues and differing opinions. The seminar is the forum in which students are given the opportunity to communicate ideas, jointly exploring themes and arguments. Seminars are structured to develop understanding and designed to maximise student participation related to prior independent preparation. Seminars give students the opportunity to develop oral communication skills, encourage critical and tolerant approaches to reasoned argument and historical discussion, build the students' ability to marshal historical evidence, and facilitate the development of the ability to summarise historical arguments, think in a rapidly changing environment and communicate in a persuasive and articulate manner, whilst recognising the value of working with others and, occasionally, towards shared goals.
• Assessment: Summative coursework will test students' ability to communicate ideas in writing, present clear and cogent arguments succinctly and show appropriate critical skills as relevant to the particular module.
• Timed assessment to test students' ability to work under pressure, to prepare for examinations and direct their own programme of revision and learning, and develop key time management skills. The timed assessment gives students the opportunity to develop relevant life skills such as the ability to produce coherent, reasoned and supported arguments under pressure. Students will be examined on subject specific knowledge.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative benefits from the summative assignment and from work done during and in preparation for seminars.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University